The children play and jump and run
Chase each other till day is done
I watch and wish and hope and dreamI
want to play and giggle and scream.
But, I hide behind the nearest tree
The kids, you see, are afraid of me.
I will not bite them, nor will I feast
I'm not a monster, not a beast.
I'm just a baby, misunderstood
Too young to hate, as if I could
Too young to understand just why
I'm often shunned and made to cry.
I'm sweet and cuddly with eyes of blue
It matters not that I'm ten foot two
My scales are of the deepest red
And wings that stretch above my head.
I'm very cute or so I'm told
Much too smart and much too bold
Safe at home is where I should stay
But there's no children, no one to play.
There was a party today, you see
Although I'm large, I just turned three
There was a cake, a chocolate one
But no children, no games of fun
I grabbed my presents, slipped away
Came out here to laugh and play
I found them in the meadow green
But I hide here, sight unseen.
My new present might be the key
So I step out from behind my tree
"Come," I yell, "I've a new red wagon."
"Run!" they scream, "It's the baby dragon!"
Monette